The Book of Margery Kempe by Margery Kempe

the precious sacrament, the chalice moved to and fro as if it would have fallen out of his hands. When the consecration was done, this creature marvelled at the stirring and moving of the blessed sacrament, wanting to see more consecrations and looking to see if it would do so again.
    Then our Lord Jesus Christ said to the creature, ‘You will not see it any more in this way; therefore thank God that you have seen it. My daughter Bridget never saw me in this way.’ 1
    Then this creature said in her thought, ‘Lord, what does this betoken?’
    â€˜It betokens vengeance.’
    â€˜Ah, good Lord, what vengeance?’
    Then our Lord replied to her, ‘There shall be an earthquake. 2 Tell whoever you wish, in the name of Jesus. For in truth I tell you, just as I spoke to St Bridget, just so I speak to you, daughter, and I tell you truly that every word that is written in Bridget’s book is true, and through you shall be recognized as truth indeed. And you will succeed, daughter, in spite of all your enemies; the more envy they have of you for my grace the better shall I love you. I would not be righteous unless I loved you, for I know you better than you do yourself, whatever people say about you. You say I have great patience with people’s sins, and you say truly, but if you saw people’s sins as I do, you would marvel much more at my patience, and sorrow much more at people’s sin, than you do.’
    Then the creature said, ‘Alas, beloved Lord, what shall I do for the people?’ 3
    Our Lord answered, ‘It is enough for you to do as you do.’
    Then she prayed, ‘Merciful Lord Christ Jesus, in you is allmercy and grace and goodness. Have mercy, pity and compassion on them. Show your mercy and your goodness upon them, help them, send them true contrition, and let them never die in their sin.’
    Our merciful Lord said, ‘I may do no more for them in my righteousness, daughter, than I do. I send them preaching and teaching, pestilence and battles, hunger and famine, loss of their goods, with great sickness and many other tribulations, and they will not believe my words nor will they recognize my visitation. And therefore I shall say to them that “I made my servants pray for you, and you despised their deeds and their lives.” ’

Chapter 21
    At the time that this creature had revelations, our Lord said to her, ‘Daughter, you are with child.’ 1
    She replied, ‘Ah, Lord, what shall I do about looking after my child?’
    Our Lord said, ‘Daughter, don’t be afraid, I shall arrange for it to be looked after.’
    â€˜Lord, I am not worthy to hear you speak, and still to make love with my husband, even though it is great pain and great distress to me.’
    â€˜Therefore it is no sin for you, daughter, because it is reward and merit instead for you, and you will not have any the less grace, for I wish you to bring me forth more fruit.’
    Then the creature said, ‘Lord Jesus, this manner of life belongs to your holy maidens.’
    â€˜Yes, daughter, but rest assured that I love wives also, and specially those wives who would live chaste if they might have their will, and do all they can to please me as you do. For though the state of maidenhood be more perfect and more holy than thestate of widowhood, and the state of widowhood more perfect than the state of wedlock, yet I love you, daughter, as much as any maiden in the world. 2 No man may prevent me from loving whom I wish and as much as I wish, for love, daughter, quenches all sin. And therefore ask of me the gifts of love. There is no gift so holy as is the gift of love, nor anything so much to be desired as love, for love may gain what it desires. And therefore, daughter, you may please God no better than to think continually on his love.’
    Then this creature asked our Lord Jesus how she should best love him, and our Lord said, ‘Be mindful of your